Byline: Michael Perrault
ROCKY MOUNTAIN NEWS
Centura Health has named George Zara as chief executive of century-old St. Anthony Hospital.
Zara, 53, a health care executive with 25 years' experience, will take over the top spot in mid-December. He'll oversee operations at both St. Anthony hospitals in Denver and Westminster, Summit Medical Center in Frisco and Granby Medical Center. He also will head Centura's Flight for Life medical helicopter and airplane operations.
``St. Anthony is a very complex organization, and I think we have the right person who has a lot of experience in a complex setting,'' said Joseph Swedish, Centura's president and CEO.
Centura began its nationwide search to fill the position in April, Swedish said.
``It's a very well-known hospital nationally, typically because of its trauma program and other specialty programs,'' Swedish said.
Zara will leave his job Dec. 6 after three years as CEO of Carondelet Health's St. Joseph and St. Mary's hospitals in Kansas City, Mo.
Zara took on that job in 1998 when he replaced Richard Michael Abell, who was fired and subsequently pleaded guilty to defrauding Medicare.
At Carondelet, Zara oversaw more than 3,000 employees at two hospitals, three long-term care facilities, several physician practices and home-health operations.
Zara also held executive positions with Banner Health System and Samaritan Health in Arizona.
Zara will replace former St. Anthony CEO Matt Fulton, who left in the spring after being appointed Centura's vice president of business development.
Art Otten, community board chairman for the St. Anthony hospitals, said Zara's combination of experience and talent ultimately won him the position.
Swedish described Zara as a ``people person, a team builder, someone who has a wonderful ability to connect with people.''
Zara will oversee construction of the Summit Medical Center and expansions at St. Anthony North, Centura officials said.
Centura also is in the final stages of recruiting a CEO at Porter Adventist Hospital in Denver.
CAPTION(S):
Photo
George Zara to take St. Anthony job in December.
